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Steven James Tingus is recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts, advocates, and thought leaders for disability, aging, and health and human services policy and programs. He has more than twenty years of experience in managing issues impacting the disability and aging communities, and the health care and medical rehabilitation research field.
Prior to joining the LA Fashion Week team as Senior Advisor for Disability Inclusion and Outreach, Mr. Tingus started his own disability policy and entertainment industry consultancy (Steven J. Tingus Consulting, Inc.) in 2011. From 2010 to 2011, Mr. Tingus served as the Chief Government and Public Relations Officer for the Los Amigos Research and Education Institute, Inc. (LAREI) in Downey, CA. As a Presidential appointee from 2001 to 2009 in charge of our country’s disability research and policy, Mr. Tingus worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Washington, DC. He joined HHS in July 2007 and served until January 2009 as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (Disability, Aging, and Long-Term Care Policy) within the Office of the Secretary. Before joining HHS, Mr. Tingus served from October 2001 to June 2007 as Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, at that time a component of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC. Earlier in California, Mr. Tingus served from July 1998 to August 2001 as Director of Public Policy and Resource Development for the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers, Inc., and from May 1995 to June 1998 he served as Health Care Policy Analyst (Gubernatorial appointment) for the California Department of Health Services’ Office of Long Term Care.
Mr. Tingus is a graduate of the University of California, Davis (B.S. and M.S. degrees), and has received numerous awards at the federal, state and non-profit foundation level for his exceptional leadership in the establishment and implementation of public policies and research programs that enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities and seniors. Mr. Tingus is a Charter Member of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Member of the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), Member of the Board of Advisors for RespectAbilityUSA.org, and Member of the Hollywood Diversity Association (HDA). Mr. Tingus currently resides in Los Angeles, California.